THE quick action of firefighters saved a row of cottages in Petersfield after lightning hit a chimney stack during the storm which lashed the town on Tuesday evening. Two fire crews rushed to Windsor Road just after 6pm after a lightning bot had hit a chimney stack and found a fire spreading through the roof space. They forced their way into the cottage fearing there could be people trapped inside, but the home was empty. Firefighters then scrambled into the loft space and put out the flames saving the cottage and neighbouring homes in the terrace. Eye witness Henry Willis, the renowned organ builder who lives closeby in Windsor Road, told The Herald: "I had just parked my car and turned off the engine when I heard an almighty crack, just before 6pm. "It wasn't raining at the time but within seconds of the crack the rain started to lash down as if God had tipped a whole bathful out. I stayed in the car because it was the safest place to be with all the thunder and lightning." L:ess than a minute later Mr Willis braved the weather and got out of his car for the dash to his home, but he saw smoke coming from the chimney stack of one of the homes in the terrace. "I realised lthen that the house had been struck by lightning and then I saw a young woman come out of the cottage next door with her two little girls. "They had been terrified by the crack of lightning, and when they saw the roof they started to get very upset." Mr Willis called to a neighbour who alerted the fire brigade and they were quickly on the scene. Two crews from Petersfield arrived at 6.09pm supported by crews from Horndean and Liphook with an aerial ladder platform from Basingstoke. A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue told The Herald: "On arrival fire crews were faced with smoke issuing from the roof of the two-storey building. "The lightning had hit the roof at the back of the property and fire had spread through the roof space." "Fire crews forced entry into the property as there were fears people may be trapped inside. Six firefighters searched the property and went into the loft space to put out the fire." Incident commander group manager Brian Neat praised his crews for their swift actions. He said: "Without their quick response, this incident could have been a lot more serious. "It is very difficult to get into a loft space on fire, but it was their quick actions bringing the fire under control that stopped it spreading to other properties. "The owner of the property was out at the time of the incident and returned home during firefighting operations." Fire crews remained at the incident until 9.44pm.